To: Snow Shoe who wrote (6910 ) 10/28/1999 11:05:00 PM From: coolcalm8 Respond to
Found the skyreport re broadband which I referred to in earlier message -- this one's hard copy dated "summer 99" so will just quote a couple of the pertinent passages from the article entitled "Satellite's Broadband Revolution". Article starts like this: "Wall Street analysts, research associates, and other pundits all agree that emerging opportunities in the commercial satellite business will be in broadband. They predict that one day Internet access, data delivery or full-blown multimedia offerings combining graphics & television will outstrip the sale of video services in the satellite arena... The bottom line, according to Merrill Lynch's Tom Watts, is that Internet & data 'should transform the satellite industry over the next decade.'" The references to Loral in the article are "Skynet parent Loral Space & Communications also made moves into the data realm, partly through its acquisition of VSAT contender Orion Network Systems and with its continuing development of Cyberstar and Skybridge broadband platforms." (It indicates in VSAT, GMH has 54% of the global business; Gilat is gaining & shooting for 30% market share; SPOT has some business). The article discusses partnering between Loral's Cyberstar and Alcatel for Skybridge, LMH's allliances with TRW and others for Astrolink, Hughes ventures with AOL, and ATT Wireless/Motorola partnering w/ Teledesic. Then says, "Cyberstar is up and running, using Ku-band frequencies via Loral Skynet. It plans an eventual switch to Ka-band. The others, however, are a long way from launch. And questions arise over their technology (a majority of systems plan to use untested Ka-band frequencies) and cost... " Article ends with conclusion it is expected that the proposed broadband platforms will boom. Does not say anything about GSTRF birds playing a role in LOR's broadband plans so will be interesting to see.
